Dalton Finishes Outstanding Debut Season In Style

In Car

Posted: November 25, 2013 4:48 PM

Richie Dalton / John Allen:

Dalton Finishes Outstanding Debut Season In Style

Posted: November 25, 2013 9:08 AM

13 months ago Irish expat Richie Dalton had never driven a rally car, yet last weekend he found himself standing on the top step of the podium in the final round of the 4WD Australian Rally Championship.

The 31 year old from Freshford in Kilkenny has been creating waves in Australian motorsport circles. In his 1st year rallying Richie has maintained a 100% finish record, an impressive feat in itself, but what’s even more impressive is that he has finished on the podium in every round of the championship.

Richie, team owner of Shamrock Motorsport once again had the very experienced John Allen sitting beside him for Rally Victoria. John has co-piloted for the elite in Australian Rallying over the years and has done many Asian/Pacific rounds as well as World Rally rounds such as Argentina and New Zealand. The pair came very close to their 1st win in the last round in Coffs Harbor in September only for mechanical failure to let them down on the Saturday stages, but they still managed to come home in 3rd place.

The final round Rally Victoria took place on the east Gippsland forest roads, about an hour and a half south east of Victoria’s capital city Melbourne, There was still a lot to be decided at the final round, with a 3 way fight for 2nd in the championship between Dalton, Multiple state champion Michael Harding and Queensland veteran Mike Bailey.

The Shamrock team got off to a flying start winning the opening 2 stages from the newly crowned 4WD Australian Rally Champions John Mitchell and Jo Cadman, only to lose it to Mitchell on the 3rd stage. With only .5 of a second separating them with 1 stage remaining on the 1st day, it was all to play for. The 4th stage was a repeat of stage 2 and Mitchell set a blistering time taking 15 seconds off his 1st run over the 13.6 km stage. But Dalton was up for the fight, crossing the line 2.4 seconds quicker than Mitchell to record another stage win and take victory on Fridays heat, and with it securing 2nd place in the 4WD Australian Rally Championship. Day 2, And Dalton continued where he left off, winning the 1st 2 stages and taking a commanding lead of 38 seconds over Mitchell, The team maintained the gap till the final forest stage of the event, when disaster struck, a right rear control arm failed on the car and the Shamrock Motorsport team lost over half a minute and the lead, With both teams level on heat wins and stage wins, the rally was decided on who won the 1st stage of the event, giving the Irish man and and his navigator their 1st win together.

Talking to them at the finish ramp Dalton was understandably delighted,
“it’s a great feeling, we really put a lot of effort on writing good notes and commiting to them 100%. Everything worked really well this weekend, and the difference John has made to my driving and confidence is incredible” But I have to give a huge mention to our major sponsors the Cat and Fiddle Hotel in Balmain and my good friend Ivan Cummins, for getting behind the team and funding the entire event for us. Without them and our service crew from Dashsport we would not be here. And also the Falvey family, the ever giving Mick Ryan from Rallyschool.com.au, my family for supporting me, and my partner Lou.

John added
“what a way to win your 1st rally, to lead from start to finish against the National Champion is unbelievable”. Probably the biggest improvement Richie has made, is his writing of his own notes and trusting them since I have joined the team. He has always had the car control to be fast but now that he has developed a quality set of notes of his own, that has put us in the position to win rallies “Richie’s definitely a hot prospect to be a future Australian Champion after proving himself in his 1st year, It’s hard to believe this is still only his 7th rally, what a remarkable season, I’m really happy right now.

The team at this stage are unsure of their plans for 2014. But a very confident John Allen has no doubt in his mind that if they can secure financial backing to move forward, they can become next years 4WD Australian Rally Champions.

Story from: rally.com.au/4wd-national-rally-series/dalton-finishes-outstanding-debut-season-in-style

Posted: November 25, 2013 9:08 AM